Andy Burnham visits Kyiv on first overseas trip as UK pledges continued support

If confirmed, it would mark Burnham's first official visit to the US since he took over as prime minister in July.

As well as pledging military help and diplomatic backing, the prime minister could be useful in dealing with the USSince moving into Downing Street in July, Andy Burnham – a foreign policy neophyte – has expressed strong support for Ukraine. But on Monday he saw the bitter human cost of the war up close for the first time, visiting Kyiv during his first international trip as prime minister.The occasion was the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave awards to the families of fallen soldiers. Relatives wept, hugging Ukraine’s president. Photos of young men in their prime were shown on a giant screen. Continue reading...

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s visit coincides with Ukraine’s 35th independence day.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is in Kyiv on Monday, meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and co-chairing a meeting with international leaders

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is in Kyiv on Monday, meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and co-chairing a meeting with international leaders

Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as PM will see him co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes as Ukraine marks its 35th independence day. DW has more.

Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as prime minister includes co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and holding talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes on Ukraine's Independence Day. DW has more.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will co-chair the meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on Monday, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On Ukraine's Independence Day, Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans an official visit to Kyiv, where he will engage with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and take charge of the Coalition of the Willing. The UK aims to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities by sharing classified missile technology for domestic assembly. This initiative underscores Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine's security and fortifying their long-standing alliance.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday on his first international visit since taking office last month, his office said, as Ukraine marks its 35th independence anniversary. Burnham has vowed to give strong support to Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion. The Labour Party leader’s visit comes as he announced that Britain had “agreed that defense firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine”, a statement said. READ: UK’s Burnham to welcome Zelensky in first foreign leader visit The missile is the French-produced […]...Keep on reading: New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday – office

Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as PM will see him co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes as Ukraine marks its 35th independence day. DW has more.

Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as PM will see him co-chair a meeting of Ukraine's main backers and meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes as Ukraine marks its 35th independence day. DW has more.

Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as PM will see him co-chair a meeting of Ukraine's main backers and meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes as Ukraine marks its 35th independence day. DW has more.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday on his first international visit since taking office last month, his office said, as Ukraine marks its 35th independence anniversary. Burnham has vowed to give strong support to Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion. The Labour Party leader’s visit comes as he announced that Britain had “agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly...

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham, right, greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they view Ukrainian equipment and meet Ukrainian personnel at HM Naval Base in Portsmouth, England, Monday July 27, 2026.Andy Burnham will travel to Kyiv today on his first international trip as prime minister to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day.The prime minister is set to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, the international group set up by Keir Starmer to support Kyiv amid Moscow’s invasion. He and other international leaders will demonstrate their ongoing alliance with the beleaguered country as it celebrates 35 years since it declared independence from the former USSR in 1991.Burnham already welcomed Zelenskyy to the UK as his first international guest last month, shortly after he got the keys to No.10.He is keen to demonstrate that Britain will continue to support Ukraine even though Burnham is the UK’s fifth prime minister since Russia’s illegal invasion began in February 2022.Burnham will tell Ukrainians that the UK is “four-square” behind its independence as Vladimir Putin’s brutal land grab rumbles on.In words released ahead of his visit, the prime minister said: “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.“The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war. In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”He will also announce the government has agreed the defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missiles SCALP – the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow.Both missiles use shared French and British technology.The UK will also allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile.Britain was the first to offer long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes to Ukraine back in 2023.Relations between London and Moscow appear to have broken down after it was confirmed Ukraine used long-range British drones to hit targets deep within Russia last week.The Russian embassy in London and Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov threatened “consequences” for Britain as a result.Burnham rebuffed the warnings last week, saying: “We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need and that won’t change.”He added that the UK was “providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict, by previous prime ministers - it remains the case with me”.The Kremlin has also not replaced its ambassador Andrei Kelin, who left his post in Britain in July, suggesting relations are in decline.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Burnham To Hand Mayors Power To Take Over Local Planning DecisionsCan Andy Burnham Really Live Up To His Promise To Ease The Cost Of Living?Russia Withdraws Ambassador From The UK Amid Fresh Ukraine War Row